Well hello there!

Well, hello there Jean and Anita...can't believe you two still check this page! (And yes, I am secretly...well not so secretly anymore...happy to know someone reads this thing.)

Sooo, the question was; what have I been up to? Well, it all began with me deciding to take a Reiki class, which then spiralled outwards, and I am now working towards my Naturopath Doctorate Degree. I am completing the diploma portion first, which still gives me the ND title and is recognized here in Canada, and then after that will pursue the actual MD ND if the requirements haven't changed. Right now I expect to conclude my diploma portion in the summer of 2009 and then it will be 3 years after that if I want the MD. The thing is, when you use the ND the only restriction is that you not represent yourself as a medical physician, but rather a doctor of naturopathic medicine. (Don't ask me!) If you then apply and are accepted and blah blah blah, you can actually get your medical degree in Naturopathic medicine (after the 3 years) and call yourself a physician. Sooo, I kinda think I will be able to practice quite successfully without doing the medical degree portion, however, this avenue supposedly will soon be closed and it will be like all other medical subspecialities where you do pre-med, then apply to the college of medicine and then specialize. So, if I go my current route, I am bypassing a lot of work that will be in place in the future.

Anyway, at this point, I'm just sick of being a student. I foolishly also decided to take some other Uni classes...and well, I suck at being a student. I'm not carefree and happy, drinking coffee, studying late, falling asleep in class (okay maybe that one), hanging with friends, partying on the weekends...nope that's not me. I am more like this: Drag my sorry butt out of bed, take the bus...yes the BUS to school, more on this later. Attend class where I barely understand a word my prof is saying because of his accent, however, apparently I have a better grasp of the material as all other classmates understand even less than I do. Then I go have lunch with myself or some other older idiot who has decided to return to school. Head to the library and try to learn what I should have learned in the previous class but didn't understand, then head to my next class, which I actually like. Finally last class, then off to catch the bus home. Then I get home, plug in my water heater for the stones and await my first client for reflexology or stone massage or whatever. Finally, I make something to eat, swallow it without thinking, talk to my mom, do some homework, or study or watch tv for an hour...do laundry, since I now have bedding to wash because of the clients, play with the cats, clean the litter box and go to bed, then start the whole damn thing over again 7 hours later. Does it sound like fun? Cuz well...

I'm not having fun...I hate taking the bus, but I can't stand trying to find parking and now that it's cold I don't want to have to warm my car up...so I shall do my part in going green and keep taking the bus. I think if I actually understood my one prof I would be much happier. It's as though he drops the the last syllables of his words. For instance, if he wanted to say, "If you are ambidextrous you are able to use both hands" I would hear something similar to this: If you are Uhhhhmbiduhs,...uuuunh den you are able to you zzzz boat hunds. Okay...not so bad...but try this one. The study of iridology both compliments and is used as a part of naturopathic medicine with relation to physiological representation, unlike the components used in medical practices such as Ayurvedic or Chinese herbal treatments. And now my professors version: The stuhdy of earieeduh..uhhn boat complea..uhhn and is use as part of natch..uhhntic medi scene wid relaunhh to fizzy...uhhnnn cal ripreeuhhhnshun un like dee compuhnnnts used in mediunnhcal practice such as Ayuhhhhnic or chinunnnnhz hairball treeuhhnts.

Kill me now please.

Anyway, I am now certified/qualified to practice and even teach in some cases in the following areas:Usui Reiki, Celtic Reiki, Acupressure, Reflexology Foot, Reflexology hand, Stone massage specialty for lymphatic drainage, Crystal healing, Energy balancing, Iridology. A lot of these areas are not governed by a licensing body yet, however, if you go towards the ND then they are at least regulated which helps when deciding what to take and where to take it from.

On the bright side of things, I love the actual practice that I have going, and have some very cool treatment stories to tell you about. However, it's time to run!

- Swapna
PS In case I deuhhnnduh to be lauhhnzee and duuhhhnt post zun, I wish you ull hauuuuhh pee hall eeeuuhn days. (translation: In case I decide to be lazy and dont post soon, I wish you all happy holidays)